Best Drafters of the Decade

[Rockies GM (Dan)]

Note - This isn't taking ownership changes into account. Just how well did a certain team draft. It's also not taking trades, RFA, or prospecting via FA into account. Players count for the team that drafted them, not with whom they broke into the league

I decided to use WAR to judge players. While this may reward players for defensive acumen not rewarded by our league, it seems the best metric.

#30 - Texas Rangers

Total WAR for the decade - 14.9
Best 1st - Joey Gallo (2012 1.27) - 8.7 WAR
Best Non-1st - Heath Hembree (2011 3.19) - 0.9 WAR
Worst 1st - Christian Colon (2010 1.8)
Best Draft - 2012 (Joey Gallo/Dilson Herrera/Corey Black)
Best bet for future WAR - Jasson Dominguez

#29 - St. Louis Cardinals

Total WAR for the decade - 15.5
Best 1st - Andrew Heaney (2012 1.16) - 4.6 WAR
Best Non-1st - Stephen Piscotty (2012 3.16) - 7.3 WAR
Worst 1st - Tyler Kolek (2014 1.6)
Best Draft - 2012 (Andrew Heaney/James Ramsey/Stephen Piscotty)
Best bet for future WAR - Will Smith

#28 - Cincinnati Reds

Total WAR for the decade - 17.4
Best 1st - Josh Bell (2011 1.25) - 3.8 WAR
Best Non-1st - Mike Clevinger (2015 3.19) - 11 WAR
Worst 1st - Stryker Trahan (2012 1.26)
Best Draft - 2015 (Austin Riley/Silvino Bracho/Mike Clevinger)
Best bet for future WAR - Heliot Ramos

#27 - Boston Red Sox

Total WAR for the decade - 24
Best 1st - Kyle Freeland (2014 1.18) - 6.3 WAR
Best Non-1st - Drew Smyly (2010 3.19) - 8.4 WAR
Worst 1st - Garett Whitley (2015 1.7)
Best Draft - 2014 (Kyle Freeland/Braxton Davidson/Luke Weaver)
Best bet for future WAR - Nolan Gorman

#26 - Oakland Athletics

Total WAR for the decade - 26.2
Best 1st - Michael Conforto (2014 1.9) - 14 WAR
Best Non-1st - Fernando Tatis Jr. (2016 2.17) - 3.6 WAR
Worst 1st - Tsuyoshi Nishioka (2010 1.4)
Best Draft - 2014 (Michael Conforto/Touki Toussaint/Michael Chavis/Jacob Gatewood/Foster Griffin)
Best bet for future WAR - Fernando Tatis Jr./Marco Luciano

#25 - Miami Marlins

Total WAR for the decade - 26.9
Best 1st - Aaron Nola (2014 1.7) - 17.2 WAR
Best Non-1st - Bryan Reynolds (2016 3.4) - 3.2 WAR
Worst 1st - Zack Cox (2010 1.9)
Best Draft - 2017 (MacKenzie Gore/Nick Pratto/Drew Waters)
Best bet for future WAR - MacKenzie Gore

#24 - Washington Nationals

Total WAR for the decade - 28.1
Best 1st - Lance McCullers Jr. (2012 1.22) - 9.8 WAR
Best Non-1st - Austin Hedges (2011 3.29) - 5.7 WAR
Worst 1st - Kodi Medeiros (2014 1.30)
Best Draft - 2013 (Tim Anderson/Manuel Margot/Teddy Stankiewicz)
Best bet for future WAR - Tim Anderson

#23 - Cleveland Indians

Total WAR for the decade - 28.5
Best 1st - Sonny Gray (2011 1.13) - 18.4 WAR
Best Non-1st - Maikel Franco (2012 2.22) - 3.5 WAR
Worst 1st - Matt Lipka (2010 1.20)
Best Draft - 2014 (Reynaldo Lopez/Cole Tucker/Sean Reid-Foley)
Best bet for future WAR - Sonny Gray

#22 - Detroit Tigers

Total WAR for the decade - 39.2
Best 1st - Francisco Lindor (2011 1.10) - 27.2 WAR
Best Non-1st - Tyler Anderson (2011 2.12) - 5 WAR
Worst 1st - Mark Appel (2013 1.2)
Best Draft - 2011 (Francisco Lindor/Tyler Anderson/Jose Lobaton)
Best bet for future WAR - Francisco Lindor/Gavin Lux

#21 - Seattle Mariners

Total WAR for the decade - 42.7
Best 1st - Andrew Benintendi (2015 1.5) - 9 WAR^* 
Best Non-1st - Derek Dietrich (2010 3.29) - 7.4 WAR
Worst 1st - Bubba Starling (2011 1.5)
Best Draft - 2010 (Taijuan Walker/Yordy Cabrera/Derek Dietrich)
Best bet for future WAR - Jo Adell

^* - Technically, Mike Zunino has 13.9, but that mostly comes from defensive contributions. I made a subjective call here

[Rockies GM (Dan)]

#20 - Chicago White Sox

Total WAR for the decade - 43.5
Best 1st - Matt Harvey (2010 1.15) - 14.4 WAR
Best Non-1st - Chris Taylor (2013 3.30) - 10 WAR
Worst 1st - Austin Wilson (2013 1.30)
Best Draft - 2017 (Shane Baz/Freddy Peralta/Luke Bard)
Best bet for future WAR - Lucas Giolito

#19 - Philadelphia Phillies

Total WAR for the decade - 46.6
Best 1st - Anthony Rendon (2011 1.4) - 32.7 WAR
Best Non-1st - Nathan Karns (2012 2.24) - 2.2 WAR
Worst 1st - Anthony Ranaudo (2010 1.7)
Best Draft - 2012 (Yasiel Puig/Rio Ruiz/Nathan Karns/Domingo Tapia)
Best bet for future WAR - Anthony Rendon

#18 - Atlanta Braves

Total WAR for the decade - 49.7
Best 1st - George Springer (2011 1.15) - 24.6 WAR
Best Non-1st - Jack Flaherty (2014 2.15) - 7 WAR
Worst 1st - Jonathan Crawford (2013 1.28)
Best Draft - 2011 (George Springer/Bryan Shaw)
Best bet for future WAR - Jack Flaherty

#17 - New York Yankees

Total WAR for the decade - 49.7 
Best 1st - Michael Wacha (2012 1.19) - 10.8 WAR
Best Non-1st - Trevor Rosenthal (2011 3.30) - 7.1 WAR
Worst 1st - Justin O'Conner (2014 1.28)
Best Draft - 2017 (Shohei Ohtani/Jeter Downs/Jeisson Rosario)
Best bet for future WAR - Shohei Ohtani

#16 - Milwaukee Brewers

Total WAR for the decade - 54.2
Best 1st - Kyle Schwarber (2014 1.4) - 9.1 WAR
Best Non-1st - Aaron Judge (2013 2.3) - 17.8 WAR
Worst 1st - Kolbrin Vitek (2010 1.17)
Best Draft - 2012 (Addison Russell/Matt Skole/Matt Olson)
Best bet for future WAR - Aaron Judge

#15 - New York Mets

Total WAR for the decade - 55.5
Best 1st - Trevor Bauer (2011 1.7) - 17.4 WAR
Best Non-1st - Tyler Alexander (2015 3.12) - 0.9 WAR
Worst 1st - Cornelius Randolph (2015 1.10)
Best Draft - 2014 (Trea Turner/Bobby Bradley/Gareth Morgan)
Best bet for future WAR - Trea Turner

#14 - Kansas City Royals

Total WAR for the decade - 60.2
Best 1st - Manny Machado (2010 1.5) - 33.2 WAR
Best Non-1st - Adeiny Hechavarria (2010 3.5) - 4.6 WAR
Worst 1st - Jairo Beras (2012 1.9)
Best Draft - 2010 (Manny Machado/Cito Culver/Adeiny Hechavarria)
Best bet for future WAR - Eloy Jimenez

#13 - Tampa Bay Rays

Total WAR for the decade - 61.9
Best 1st - Jose Fernandez (2011 1.21) - 14.5 WAR
Best Non-1st - Robbie Ray (2013 2.21) - 12.2 WAR
Worst 1st - Jay Groome (2016 1.3)
Best Draft - 2011 (Jose Fernandez/Jacob Anderson/Joe Musgrove)
Best bet for future WAR - Trent Grisham

#12 - San Diego Padres

Total WAR for the decade - 66
Best 1st - Marcus Stroman (2012 1.30) - 15.8 WAR
Best Non-1st - Alex Wood (2012 2.30) - 13.6 WAR
Worst 1st - Chris Shaw (2015 1.24)
Best Draft - 2012 (Marcus Stroman/Alex Wood/Cody Allen)
Best bet for future WAR - Brent Honeywell

#11 - Minnesota Twins^*

Total WAR for the decade - 66.8
Best 1st - Javier Baez (2011 1.14) - 13.9 WAR 
Best Non-1st - Jose Berrios (2012 2.2) - 9.9 WAR
Worst 1st - Kyle Zimmer (2012 1.3)
Best Draft - 2015 (Vlad Guerrero Jr./Walker Buehler/Dustin Fowler/Ji-Man Choi)
Best bet for future WAR - Vlad Guerrero Jr./Walker Buehler

^* - The 2015 draft will almost assuredly push the Twins into the top 10. The stars they drafted then just haven't yet accumulated enough WAR

[Rockies GM (Dan)]

#10 - Chicago Cubs

Total WAR for the decade - 68.3
Best 1st - Yoenis Cespedes (2011 1.2) - 21.5 WAR
Best Non-1st - Marcell Ozuna (2011 2.2) - 20.3 WAR
Worst 1st - Michael Choice (2010 1.6)
Best Draft - 2011 (Yoenis Cespedes/Marcell Ozuna/Angel Villalona)
Best bet for future WAR - Brendan McKay

#9 - Colorado Rockies

Total WAR for the decade - 68.7
Best 1st - Carlos Correa (2012 1.5) - 18.5 WAR
Best Non-1st - Trevor Story (2011 2.10) - 15.4 WAR
Worst 1st - Yadier Alvarez (2015 1.26)
Best Draft - 2011 (Daniel Norris/Trevor Story/Dillon Maples)
Best bet for future WAR - Juan Soto

#8 - San Francisco Giants

Total WAR for the decade - 72.7
Best 1st - Yasmani Grandal (2010 1.18) - 32.6 WAR
Best Non-1st - Kendall Graveman (2014 3.1) - 3.4 WAR
Worst 1st - D.J. Davis (2012 1.17)
Best Draft - 2010 (Yasmani Grandal/Chevy Clarke/JR Bradley)
Best bet for future WAR - Kris Bryant

#7 - Toronto Blue Jays

Total WAR for the decade - 72.8
Best 1st - Jon Gray (2013 1.3) - 13.1 WAR
Best Non-1st - Joc Pederson (2012 2.10) - 13.1 WAR
Worst 1st - Jake Skole (2010 1.23)
Best Draft - 2011 (Dylan Bundy/Leonys Martin/Renato Nunez)
Best bet for future WAR - Yoan Moncada

#6 - Pittsburgh Pirates

Total WAR for the decade - 74.2
Best 1st - Masahiro Tanaka (2013 1.5) - 18.1 WAR
Best Non-1st - Eduardo Rodriguez (2012 3.8) - 10.7 WAR
Worst 1st - (TIE) Brady Aiken (2015 1.9)/Kevin Maitan (2016 1.4)
Best Draft - 2013 (Masahiro Tanaka/Mitch Nay/Rafael Devers)
Best bet for future WAR - Rafael Devers

#5 - Los Angeles Angels

Total WAR for the decade - 76.6
Best 1st - Gerrit Cole (2011 1.3) - 28.8 WAR
Best Non-1st - Pete Alonso (2016 2.15) - 4.8 WAR
Worst 1st - Delvin Perez (2016 1.16)
Best Draft - 2011 (Gerrit Cole/Joe Ross/Tyler Austin)
Best bet for future WAR - Pete Alonso

#4 - Arizona Diamondbacks

Total WAR for the decade - 78.1
Best 1st - Alex Bregman (2015 1.3) - 20.5 WAR
Best Non-1st - Matt Chapman (2014 2.10) - 15.5 WAR
Worst 1st - Stetson Allie (2010 1.21)
Best Draft - 2015 (Alex Bregman/Mike Nikorak/Mike Soroka/Nolan Watson)
Best bet for future WAR - Alex Bregman

#3 - Baltimore Orioles

Total WAR for the decade - 78.8
Best 1st - Bryce Harper (2010 1.2) - 35.1 WAR
Best Non-1st - Scott Kingery (2015 2.20) - 2.6 WAR (bonus - Julio Rodriguez (2017 3.21))
Worst 1st - Victor Victor Mesa (2018 1.10)
Best Draft - 2010 (Bryce Harper/Seth Blair)
Best bet for future WAR - Julio Rodriguez

#2 - Los Angeles Dodgers

Total WAR for the decade - 84.1
Best 1st - Chris Sale (2010 1.3) - 44.5 WAR
Best Non-1st - Kyle Hendricks (2013 2.23) - 19.2 WAR
Worst 1st - Casey Gillaspie (2014 1.17)
Best Draft - 2010 (Chris Sale/Reggie Golden/Jedd Gyoko)
Best bet for future WAR - Bo Bichette/Wander Franco

#1 - Houston Astros

Total WAR for the decade - 107.3
Best 1st - Christian Yelich (2010 1.27) - 33.6 WAR 
Best Non-1st - Eduardo Escobar (2010 3.27) - 13.2 WAR
Worst 1st - Ashe Russell (2015 1.22)
Best Draft - 2010 (Christian Yelich/Jake Thompson (the other one)/Eduardo Escobar)
Best bet for future WAR - Christian Yelich

[Guardians GM (Matt)]

As much as I want credit for it, in 2013 I drafted this Jose Martinez www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?sid=milb&player_id=612791#/career/R/pitching/2017/ALL

I am truly surprised at how staggeringly bad I have been at drafting vs free agency

[Rangers GM (Victor)]

Yes, I cringe when I look at some of my draft picks and a lot of times, I only had one and typically in bottom 10 of 1st rd too. Hopefully I will turn that trend around. I know I did a lot more homework on this draft than in past but having a top 3 pick encouraged me to do so. Didnt want to fumble these picks away

*Christian Colon wasnt my pick either. Thanks CO and previous owner.

[Diamondbacks GM (Ethan)]

<wipes shoulders knowingly>

[Rockies GM (Dan)]

Apr 1, 2020 8:00:20 GMT -8 Rangers GM (Victor) said:

*Christian Colon wasnt my pick either. Thanks CO and previous owner.

Decided not to take ownership changes into account, since that would require more research into everyone's first draft. At least you didn't have the worst draft in team history!

[Rangers GM (Victor)]

Apr 1, 2020 8:59:38 GMT -8 Rockies GM (Dan) said:

Apr 1, 2020 8:00:20 GMT -8 Rangers GM (Victor) said:

*Christian Colon wasnt my pick either. Thanks CO and previous owner.

Decided not to take ownership changes into account, since that would require more research into everyone's first draft. At least you didn't have the worst draft in team history!

I was probably in the running for that with that draft. Im reviewing my past drafts and oof! Who had the worst draft, based off your metrics? That would be interesting to know.

[Rockies GM (Dan)]

Apr 1, 2020 9:02:09 GMT -8 Rangers GM (Victor) said:

Apr 1, 2020 8:59:38 GMT -8 Rockies GM (Dan) said:

Decided not to take ownership changes into account, since that would require more research into everyone's first draft. At least you didn't have the worst draft in team history!

I was probably in the running for that with that draft. Im reviewing my past drafts and oof! Who had the worst draft, based off your metrics? That would be interesting to know.

That's a little something extra I'll tack on in a day or two - going through each draft year (at least up until a few years ago) with the best and worst drafts by WAR.

Although, with that said, if someone reached the majors, even if they have a negative WAR, I'll count that better than someone who never reached the majors to begin with. That's the only place where subjectivity will come into play

[Rockies GM (Dan)]

Extra #1 - Best Selection at Each Pick

Thought it would be fun to take a look at which draft positions have gotten the most value out of their picks in the past decade.

Each position was determined by the player with the most current WAR. So that means that while Pete Alonso might overtake Jack Flaherty for the most WAR at pick 2.15 as early as this year, the 2+ WAR Flaherty has over him currently place him atop the board.

If a position had no one reach the majors or under 1 WAR with little chance of raising it further, I took the prospect who looks most likely to claim the crown (Round 2, Pick 4 is ROUGH, even with that caveat).

So, you'll notice most of these players are from 2015 or earlier. This is something it might be fun to keep a running tally of postseason to postseason for that reason.

Round	Pick	Year	Player	Team Drafted	WAR
1	1	2013	Kris Bryant	SF	27.8
1	2	2010	Bryce Harper	BAL	35.1
1	3	2010	Chris Sale	LAD	44.5
1	4	2011	Anthony Rendon	PHI	32.7
1	5	2010	Manny Machado	KC	33.2
1	6	2012	Addison Russell	MIL	9.4
1	7	2011	Trevor Bauer	NYM	17.4
1	8	2011	Dylan Bundy	TOR	7.2
1	9	2014	Michael Conforto	OAK	14
1	10	2011	Francisco Lindor	DET	27.2
1	11	2014	Trea Turner	NYM	14.3
1	12	2011	Daniel Norris	COL	5.2
1	13	2011	Sonny Gray	CLE	18.4
1	14	2011	Javier Baez	MIN	13.9
1	15	2011	George Springer	ATL	24.6
1	16	2012	Andrew Heaney	STL	4.6
1	17	2011	C.J. Cron	SF	4.6
1	18	2010	Yasmani Grandal	SF	32.6
1	19	2012	Michael Wacha	NYY	10.8
1	20	2012	Brad Miller	BAL	8.3
1	21	2011	Jose Fernandez	TB	14.5
1	22	2012	Lance McCullers Jr.	WAS	9.8
1	23	2013	Sean Manaea	BAL	6.7
1	24	2011	Taylor Jungmann	ARI	1.3
1	25	2011	Josh Bell	CIN	3.8
1	26	2011	Noah Syndergaard	HOU	18.8
1	27	2010	Christian Yelich	HOU	33.6
1	28	2012	Hyun Jin Ryu	HOU	15.1
1	29	2014	Ozzie Albies	MIN	10.3
1	30	2012	Marcus Stroman	SD	15.8
Comp	1	2016	Jacob Barnes	SD	1
Comp	2	2015	Walker Buehler	MIN	7.9
Comp	3	2016	Eric Lauer	TB	3.1
Comp	4	2016	Taylor Trammell	CIN	N/A
Comp	5	2014	Michael Chavis	OAK	0.7
Comp	6	2016	Nolan Jones	STL	N/A
Comp	7	2015	Luis Alexander Basabe	PIT	N/A
Comp	8	2016	Gavin Lux	DET	0.2
2	1	2011	Joe Ross	LAA	4.7
2	2	2011	Marcell Ozuna	CHC	20.3
2	3	2013	Aaron Judge	MIL	17.8
2	4	2019	Zack Thompson	SEA	N/A
2	5	2017	Jeter Downs	NYY	N/A
2	6	2010	A.J. Cole	SD	0.3
2	7	2015	Andrew Suarez	LAD	0.7
2	8	2011	Leonys Martin	TOR	11
2	9	2012	Luiz Gohara	CHW	1
2	10	2014	Matt Chapman	ARI	15.5
2	11	2011	Daniel Vogelbach	LAD	1.1
2	12	2011	Tyler Anderson	DET	5
2	13	2010	Aaron Sanchez	COL	5.7
2	14	2012	Paco Rodriguez	LAA	1.3
2	15	2014	Jack Flaherty	ATL	7
2	16	2011	Alex Meyer	MIL	1
2	17	2016	Fernando Tatis Jr.	OAK	3.6
2	18	2012	Zach Eflin	MIA	3.6
2	19	2012	Adeiny Hechavarria*	NYY	4.6
2	20	2015	Scott Kingery	BAL	2.6
2	21	2013	Robbie Ray	TB	12.2
2	22	2012	Maikel Franco	CLE	3.5
2	23	2013	Kyle Hendricks	LAD	19.2
2	24	2012	Nathan Karns	PHI	2.2
2	25	2011	Jackie Bradley Jr.	ARI	13.5
2	26	2013	Anthony DeSclafani	HOU	8.5
2	27	2012	Jesse Winker	CIN	2.3
2	28	2012	Chad Bettis	HOU	5
2	29	2013	Manuel Margot	WAS	4.3
2	30	2012	Alex Wood	SD	13.6
3	1	2012	Mitch Haniger	CHC	8.4
3	2	2012	Blake Snell	MIN	11
3	3	2014	Alex Verdugo	SEA	2.1
3	4	2013	Rafael Devers	PIT	7.7
3	5	2010	Adeiny Hechavarria*	KC	4.6
3	6	2012	Matt Olson	MIL	9.4
3	7	2018	Huascar Ynoa	ARI	0
3	8	2012	Eduardo Rodriguez	PIT	10.7
3	9	2010	Jedd Gyorko	LAD	8.7
3	10	2015	Ryan Mountcastle	MIA	N/A
3	11	2013	Amed Rosario	MIN	4.5
3	12	2014	Odubel Herrera	TB	10.8
3	13	2016	Will Smith	STL	1.7
3	14	2013	Devin Williams	PHI	0
3	15	2011	Bryan Shaw	ATL	3.3
3	16	2012	Stephen Piscotty	STL	7.3
3	17	2014	Luke Weaver	BOS	4.9
3	18	2010	Vince Velasquez	MIL	6.5
3	19	2015	Mike Clevinger	CIN	11
3	20	2014	J.D. Davis	HOU	1.9
3	21	2011	Joe Musgrove	TB	7.2
3	22	2018	Brennan Davis	CHC	N/A
3	23	2018	Noelvi Marte	CHW	N/A
3	24	2017	Christian Villanueva	MIL	1.6
3	25	2016	Jazz Chrisholm	WAS	N/A
3	26	2010	Jimmy Nelson	TB	8.1
3	27	2010	Eduardo Escobar	HOU	13.2
3	28	2013	Trevor Williams	ATL	5.9
3	29	2010	Derek Dietrich	SEA	7.4
3	30	2013	Chris Taylor	CHW	10

* - Adeiny Hechavarria was, in fact, drafted twice

[Former Astros GM (Kevin)]

#1?! 😯 Wow I need to hire the original houston guy back to do all my drafting for me 😆

[Pirates GM (Hollar)]

Apr 1, 2020 20:49:44 GMT -8 Former Astros GM (Kevin) said:

#1?! 😯 Wow I need to hire the original houston guy back to do all my drafting for me 😆

Just don't let him manage your cap.

[White Sox GM (Aidan)]

This is fantastic, thanks for doing it. I was debating doing something similar with historical trades, but then crazy amounts of work popped up

[White Sox GM (Aidan)]

Also, that 2015 Twins' haul